Segment 1 A reenactment of a young boy's bike accident is seen. His mother is interviewed about his treatment; he had a ruptured spleen and 3 units of blood were required. The narrator explains that blood is needed for life-saving treatments but also for operations performed to improve quality of life, such as fixing a heart's faulty valve. The operation is seen and the narrator explains how the blood transfusion process works during the surgery. A travelling team from the National Blood Transfusion Service is seen; staff unload a lorry and set up a donor session in a school canteen. The donor register is seen. Time start: 00:00:00:00 Time end: 00:05:11:09 Length: 00:05:11:09
Segment 2 A first-time donor is interviewed by a nurse about any illnesses or medication. A blood test for anaemia is seen, and then the main blood donation. The test for determining blood group is seen; both mechanical and manual tests are shown. A machine tests blood for anaemia and diseases. A haematology department is shown, with researchers examining blood. The narrator explains that advances in technology have brought new possibilities for the blood transfusion service. Time start: 00:05:11:09 Time end: 00:09:59:15 Length: 00:04:48:06
Segment 3 Blood is separated by a centrifuge. The narrator explains blood clotting and the treatment of haemophiliacs; a young boy with haemophilia is seen. His mother keeps factor VIII, a clotting agent, in the home freezer to treat him with. Plasma is seen once it has been separated out; it is frozen into large blocks and sent to a blood products laboratory for research and production of clotting factors and immunoglobulins. Time start: 00:09:59:15 Time end: 00:14:29:02 Length: 00:04:29:12
Segment 4 A donor session is being held at a factory in the north west of England. Foreman Eric Davy is introduced; he has been giving blood since 1940. A man is seen giving plasma only; the red cells are returned to him after they are separated out. He is able to donate plasma more frequently this way. Other uses for blood donations are shown; young girls who were rhesus incompatible with their mothers received anti-rhesus antibody at birth. A burns victim is also seen being treated. The narrator stresses that one unit of blood donated can have many uses, and that 'a little goes a long way'. Time start: 00:14:29:02 Time end: 00:21:18:06 Length: 00:06:49:04